The family of slain Arcata chef Douglas Anderson-Jordet has decided to challenge his killer's involuntary manslaughter plea agreement, in a case that has drawn public comment from three of the four candidates in the race for Humboldt County district attorney.

Donald Anderson, Anderson-Jordet's brother, said that his family initially approved of the no-contest plea agreement announced by prosecutors on Feb. 13, which would have Arcata resident Juan Joseph Ferrer, 35, serve a maximum four-year jail sentence and paying up to $10,000 in restitution fees to the family.

"At first I thought that it was a pretty good deal," Anderson said. "We're just disappointed with the way it turned out. It just didn't go the way it should have gone."

Anderson-Jordet was beaten and fatally stabbed once in the heart after an early morning altercation with Ferrer and Arcata residents 24-year-old Sophie Rocheleau Buttercup and 28-year-old Nicholas Benjamin Stoiber on Nov. 25 near the intersection of H and 12th streets in Arcata. Rocheleau also pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge while Stoiber submitted a no contest plea for the charge of assault with force likely to produce bodily harm. The three assailants are set to be sentenced on April 3 at 2 p.m.

Retired Humboldt County Deputy District Attorney Arnie Klein -- one of four candidates running for district attorney -- said on Friday that he was contacted by the family recently who said they would start sending inquiries to the county Probation Department, District Attorney's Office and Public Defender's Office.

"The information that was given to them was erroneous," Klein said. "The people of Humboldt County have not been represented well."

Deputy District Attorney Elan Firpo, who prosecuted the Ferrer case and is also running for district attorney, said on Friday that she has been in contact with the family "throughout the case," but has not been contacted about their intent to challenge it.

"They have never indicated to me that they wanted to challenge the plea," Firpo said. "If they changed their mind, then they need to let me know, and I'll ask the court to reject the plea agreement and set the case for trial."

Klein said that an autopsy report, given to one of Anderson-Jordet's sisters by Firpo after the plea agreement was made, led them to change their mind.

"They just want to go forward," Klein said. "They now have enough information; can look at everything and at least try to get the court to go forward with a preliminary hearing and maybe a trial."

Firpo said that she gave a narrative from the autopsy report to Anderson-Jordet's sister and said that she will work with the family to take the case to trial.

"I am absolutely willing to do that, and am in the position to do so," Firpo said.

Klein said he would also take up the case if he "could be deputized" to do so.

"I'd do the whole case for free," Klein said. "This might be my last noble effort after my 40-year career. I'm willing to fight for what would be a just result and not a whitewash."

The plea deal in the Anderson-Jordet case has also generated negative feedback from another district attorney candidate, former Deputy District Attorney Allan Dollison.

"This was murder, and should not have been plead down to involuntary manslaughter," Dollison said in a Feb. 18 press release.

District Attorney Paul Gallegos said he does not question the grief of a victim's families and friends, but said that justice cannot be personal.

"The toughest part of my job is that I can't bring people back," Gallegos said. "You can't bring people back, and you can never undo the harm."

Gallegos said that candidates' statements about the case are common in district attorney elections.

"The thing about running for office is when you're not in office, you can always argue about the resolutions or handling of cases because you know no facts, and you have no duty to anyone," he said.